HOTEL BAR HYGIENE

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1945, Page 3

HOTEL BAR HYGIENE

dregs and bacteria A DOCTOR’S COMMENT P.A. WELLINGTON, March 15 Questions of hygiene in notel bars were discussed when Dr. F. s. MacLean' Health -Department, was crossexamined before the Royal Commission on licensing. Mr. 1. H. MacArthur, for the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Association, referred to Dr. Mac Lean's statement ' that “in some cases, it is suspected that beer dregs are collected and re-serv-ed to customers.”

“Do you mean suspected at present?” he asked. Dr. Mac Lean said complaints had been received, from time to time, in the past four or five years. Prosecutions had not been instituted, because the Depart?, ment was unable to secure any proof. The matter was referred to the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, which expressed strong disapproval. Dr. Mac Lean said he had heard further complaints more recently than four or five years ago, and was not entirely satisfied. Mr. F. G. Young, a member of the Commission, asked for further information about Dr. Mac Lean’s reference to’lack of proper drinking utensils. . . Dr. Mac Lean said there was sometimes a lack of adequate supplies of hot water, and it was reported that sometimes, at rush periods, glasses received only a cursory wash. He believed that washing of drinkingutensils in bars had not received the attention it deserved.

Dr. Mac Lean agreed that, if the water were hot enough to be effective in killing bacteria, it would be too hot for the hands of a barman. The same problem arose in eating houses. His Department recommended that a washing machine should be issued, and that the utensils should then be placed in a wire basket, and given a hot rinse.

Dr. /Mac Lean said he knew of a practice, in some places in Australia, of putting dye in beer drip tins'; to ensure that the dregs were not used. If that were done, the inspector merely had to see that dye was in the receptacle Otherwise the inspector would have to spefid a considerable time in a bar to detect any improper use of dregs.